The Obi Islands (also known as Ombirah,Goodall, George, ed. (1943). Philips' International Atlas. London: George Philip and Son. Map "East Indies" pp. 91–92. Indonesian: Kepulauan Obi) are a group of 42 islands in the Indonesian province of North Maluku, north of Buru and Ceram, and south of Halmahera. With a total area of 2,817.72 km2, they had a population of 41,455 at the 2010 CensusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 50,760 at the 2020 Census.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. The official estimate as at mid 2025 was 55,010.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Halmahera Selatan Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8204)

Geography Obi Island, also called Obira Island, is the largest island in the Obi Islands archipelago. It is surrounded by many smaller islands, including Bisa Island (174.42 km2), Obilatu Island (65.30 km2), Gomumu Island and Pasir Raja, Tapat Island, Belang-belang Island, Tobalai Island, Latu Island, Woka Island, and Tomini Island. Obi Island is bordered by the Maluku Sea to the west, the Seram Sea to the south, and the Obi Strait to the north and east. The major islands closest to it are Bacan Island to the north and Ambon to the south. Obi Island's topography is generally in the form of hills with a short coastline. The hilly surface results in many springs and rivers. Lake Kapi, in the west, is its largest lake. The area was historically abundant in sago and fish.

History The Obi Islands were an independent kingdom during the 14th century, who were near-equal in importance with the other Malukuan kingdoms (Jailolo, Bacan, Ternate, Tidore), and often intermarried with the family of Ternate. However, at some point Obi became subject to Bacan. A decline in Bacan's population possibly caused the transfer of Obi's population to Bacan, which left the islands uninhabited by the mid-17th century.

On 9 May 1682, Obi, Obilatu, Gomumu, Tapat, and Bisa were sold by the Sultan of Bacan to the VOC for 620 rijksdaalder. The islands became a center for the Tobelo chiefs, and many Tobelo and Galela people moved to the islands. In 1876, the islands were declared government property.

Administration The Obi Islands are part of South Halmahera Regency. The archipelago is directly bordered by the rest of North Maluku Province to the north and west, by Maluku Province in the south and by West Papua Province in the east. The total area of the main island is about . Obi Island and the surrounding small islands are divided into five administrative districts (kecamatan), which are sub-divided into 34 administrative villages (desa and kelurahan), with villages further subdivided into hamlets. Of the five districts, three comprise the main Obi Island, although each district also includes neighbouring smaller islands - Obi District includes the southern part of Bisa Island to the north of Obi Island, Obi Timur District includes Tobalai Island to the east, and Obi Selatan Island also includes Gomumu Island and Pasir Raja to the south. The other two districts include no part of Obi Island; Obi Barat District includes Obilatu and Belang-belang Islands to the west of Obi Island, together with the southern part (Tapa desa) of Tapat Island, while Obi Utara District includes the main part of Bisa Island to the north of Obi Island, together with the northern part (Pasir Putih desa) of Tapat Island.

Demographics The population of the Obi Islands Group was 55,010 people in mid 2025,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Halmahera Selatan Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8204) with a population density of about 19.5 people per square kilometre.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Halmahera Selatan Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8204) All inhabitants on the Obi Island are migrants, as these islands had no indigenous population. The first groups to settle on Obi Island were the Butonese and Tobelo–Galela, followed by immigrants of ethnicity Ternate, Tidore, Bacan, Makian, Kayoa, Buginese, and Javanese. Almost all of the residents are scattered along the coast with the highlands mostly uninhabited jungle. However, there are some worker settlements in hilly areas which have mines and temporary settlements for clove farmers used during clove harvesting season. Infrastructure, especially in terms of modern medical facilities, is lacking.

The languages spoken on the islands are Galela and Tobelo, which belong to the West Papuan language family. Apart from that, languages from the Austronesian language family include Muna–Buton (consisting of many languages), Buginese, and Javanese. The languages used as lingua franca are North Moluccan Malay and Indonesian.

Villages The five districts are sub-divided into villages (rural desa and urban kelurahan), listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2020 CensusBadan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. and according to the official estimates for mid 2023.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Halmahera Selatan Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8204) The administrative centres of the five districts are denoted by asterisks.

Kode Wilayah Name Area inkm2 Pop'nCensus2020Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. Pop'nEstimatemid 2023Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Halmahera Selatan Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8204) 82.04.05.2005 Loleo 11.141,038892 82.04.05.2004 Mano 12.032,7122,757 82.04.05.2007 Sologi 118.403,1453,258 82.04.05.2001 Wayaloar * 199.543,2633,231 82.04.05.2002 Fluk 142.543221,584 82.04.05.2003 Bobo 296.361661,982 82.04.05.2009 Ocimaloleo 157.78743753 82.04.05.2008 Gambaru 83.23789842 Totals South Obi Obi Selatan1,021.0212,17815,299 82.04.06.2006 Anggai 45.182,3102,084 82.04.06.2005 Sambiki 68.582,3742,514 82.04.06.2004 Jikotamo 76.033,1473,345 82.04.06.2001 Laiwui * 44.322,2942,469 82.04.06.2003 Buton 14.161,5311,629 82.04.06.2002 Baru 371.372,3682,623 82.04.06.2020 Akegula 27.661,0241,120 82.04.06.2021 Kawasi 133.794,5331,281 82.04.06.2014 Air Mangga Indah 129.509571,002 Totals Obi District Obi910.5920,53818,067

Kode Wilayah Name Area inkm2 Pop'nCensus2020Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. Pop'nEstimatemid 2023Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Halmahera Selatan Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.8204) 82.04.28.2004 Manatahan 17.711,2711,438 82.04.28.2003 Jikohai * 10.871,5431,725 82.04.28.2001 Alam Kenanga 12.20323287 82.04.28.2005 Soa Sangaji 17.32563709 82.04.28.2002 Alam Pelita 16.54978938 82.04.28.2006 Tapa 14.55533607 Totals West Obi Obi Barat89.195,2115,704 82.04.29.2002 Sum * 184.601,5211,689 82.04.29.2001 Kelo 180.40698745 82.04.29.2003 Susepe 49.20233278 82.04.29.2004 Wooi 222.001,2531,328 Totals East Obi Obi Timur636.233,7054,040 82.04.30.2006 Pasir Putih 14.101,1381,337 82.04.30.2001 Cap 24.50828875 82.04.30.2003 Galala 31.90684778 82.04.30.2004 Madapolo Barat(West Madapolo)21.101,8202,009 82.04.30.2002 Madapolo * 19.702,4602,592 82.04.30.2007 Madapolo Timur(East Madapolo)29.901,3351,518 82.04.30.2005 Waringi 19.50863963 Totals North Obi Obi Utara160.699,12810,072

Economy The dominant plantation products in the Obi Islands are cloves, nutmeg, coconut, and pepper. The main economic potential of the islands s in the mining sector. The island has resources of gold, coal, nickel, cement, and petroleum. In 2016, provincial governor Abdul Ghani Kasuba successfully negotiated for the China-based Jinchun Group to build a 620 million dollar nickel smelter on the main island.China`s Jinchun to in vest Rp9 trillion in North Maluku. Antara, 16 July 2016. Accessed 18 September 2017.

Some mining companies in this islands are:

Halmahera Persada Lygend Halmahera Jaya Feronikel Megah Surya Pratiwi Trimegah Bangun Persada Wanatiara Persada

See also

References

External links